Looking for tractor to maintain 8.5 acres in NH

[pedzola]

AxleHub - thanks for looking out for the newbie. I am new to tractors but not to internet forums. :laughing: I appreciate everyone's input, and recognize that I need to figure out what is best on my own.

And maybe I could have been more clear in my situation/requirements. Here's a quick re-cap of what I'm looking for in a tractor:

1) Mow 2+ acres (flat, no obstacles).
2) Maintain a long gravel driveway (700ft, straight and flat).
3) Remove snow from the driveway.
4) Miscellaneous landscaping, to include: i) moving dirt, ii) unknown.
5) Budget is $20k.

> The property is mostly woods, and I don't intend to do much with the wooded portion. However, it is possible that I'll need to pull a stump, drag a log, or drive over some difficult terrain once in a while.


From what I've learned so far, my preferences are as follows:

a) Turf Tires
b) 3-point finish mower
c) rear blade
d) 3-point snowblower
e) 12"+ of ground clearance
f) New or like-new condition

The models I am most interested in right now are the Kubota B2601, LS XJ2025H, Mahindra Max26XL. I think these are the right size for what I need, and they each seem like they will get the job done.

 

[DK35vince]

Sounds like you are narrowing in on what you want.

 

[DRmeron]

I work 12.5 acres in Georgia. Went with an emax 25 FEL and all 4' implements to work in/around my pines. I maintain a 450' driveway, and cut atv trails around the property. Get a ratchet rake! Awesome tool for clearing brush/vines. Like the guys on here are saying lots of excellent tractors avail. I went with Mahindra due to warranty and the price. Tractor with FEL, rotary cutter, box blade, landscape rake, quick hitch for less than 17k. So far it has done everything expected of it, I also went with ag tires due to the muddy conditions here, glad I did.

 

[AxleHub]

Pedzola,

While I appreciate my Massey GC1715, I'd recommend at leadt looking at the Masdeyb1700 series and the Yanmar 324 or 424 units to compare to the dizes you are considering.

Imo the three premier diesel tractor engine makers are kubota, yanmar, and iseki. But in kubota, yanmar, and Massey you have the engine builders also designing and building the entire tractors and each has been doing it for a very long time.

Massey warranties are great and I don't think anyone beats their insurance coverages and prices . .not evrn ktac.

Just a thought.

 

[pedzola]

Pedzola,

While I appreciate my Massey GC1715, I'd recommend at leadt looking at the Masdeyb1700 series and the Yanmar 324 or 424 units to compare to the dizes you are considering.

I will make it a point to research these models and get to a dealer to see them before I buy something. What turned me off the massey was weak loader capacity if i remember correctly. Admittedly I havent even looked at the Yanmars. I will make sure to give them both additional consideration.

Also on the ratchet rake - ok, maybe! Was thinking i wanted a tooth bar for the loader. Will look into the RR.

Thx!

 

[brasco426]

Take a look at the Mahindra Max 24 and 26. Both are very capable machines. We have the 24 and really enjoy it. Loader capacity is around 900 or so and I believe the 3pt hitch is around 1400. Somebody will correct me if I'm wrong lol . Anyway our two property's combined are 6 acres. About 3.5 mowing, an acre of horse paddock, gravel driveway grading, and snow removal. Haven't mowed yet but this little machine hasn't flinched at anything I put it upto. Good Luck

 

[jeff9366]

Was thinking i wanted a tooth bar for the loader. Will look into the RR.

Watch Ratchet Rake videos in Post #6.

 

[IslandTractor]

I've owned both a toothbar and ratchet rake. Very different capabilities. Toothbar is really just for digging. It can be useful for digging out roots but really it is designed to dig soil. You can still load a bucket with dirt when it is attached. Ratchet rake is not for digging and makes it impossible to load dirt when it is attached. On the other hand, the RR is far more effective at clearing brush and preparing soil for grass seed. RR goes on and comes off in less than five minutes without tools. Toothbar requires bolting into place so takes a bit longer to install or remove.

I found the toothbar superfluous (I have a BH). I find the RR very useful both for clearing underbrush that is too small to be handled efficiently with a grapple and as a quick substitute for a landscape rake in small areas.

 

[RalphVa]

I had a toothbar on my first tractor. Didn't find it too useful. Really only used it one time in 9 years, to rough up a patch where I put in a rain garden.

Think somewhere someone said that the Massey engines were by Isuzu. Our 12.5 kw generator with an Isuzu diesel is a little gem. You cannot tell it's a diesel except for the little delay in its starting to run the glow plugs. No diesel rattle. No smoke. Only uses 0.2 gph of fuel, but that's because it's only loaded to an average of about 2.5 kw (our average over the year). Fits right on the fuel usage chart they provide online.

So far at around 40 hours, the oil is still crystal clear. Not rushing to do the 50 hour change ahead of time.

Ralph

 

[AxleHub]

Ralph . . Massey has Iseki design and build the whole tractor and engine except for the fel and backhoes which ate bothbamerican made. I believe iseki has been building entire tractors with massey for 2 decades now. Certain Massey product (large units) uses shimura sp?? engines I believe.

Like kubota and Yanmar . . I think building great engine s is good . . But engineering and manufacturing the whole tractor with the great engine is a special advantage because there are no excuses and the engineers test everything as a combination . . rather than as parts. And kubota, yanmar, and Iseki all have very long historues building engines for others as well . . especially diesels.

P.s. bybthe way . . I've heard verybgoodbthingsvabout isuzu enginesbin generators in the past,